Chapter Text
Tagah would still be reeling if he weren’t so unsurprised.
Instead, he’s filled with the familiar, bitter grief that he was left with before Sonam betrayed him. He’s picking up where he left off, the exact same motivations with the same sick fuel keep him focused.
Because ultimately, the fate he knew would come to pass if Sonam did not do as he begged had finally arrived. The air nomads were destroyed. The other elements had always hated their peace and sought this end, and they had succeeded.
And yet the new Avatar allied himself with these people that seemed to so proudly belong to other nations, including the one that finally, truly, ended them.
The damned, literal Fire Lord, crown and all. It was almost surreal. Aang’s justification for him sat like a stone in his stomach, but for the sake of keeping peace, he tried not to choke on it. He would endeavor to remain calm and persuasive. He needs Aang.
Still, Tagah kept an eye on this firebending ‘friend’ of his as they set upon their long journey. It was strange to see royalty pull their weight around the ship - had things changed so much? In his time, the fire nation royals did not tolerate being treated as anything short of gods. He supposes the scar juxtaposes this notion.
The man was more awkward than he expected, matching his open, calculating stare with a friendly wave and - was that a blush? Before turning away quickly to busy himself.
The earthbender notices, punches him gently, and whispers something.
Stranger still were such interactions between the distinct nationalities. He kept mostly to himself and his airbending brother and expected the others to similarly isolate themselves despite this supposed camaraderie rendered for the sake of the Avatar.
Later that night, he walks lightly enough with bending not to be noticed as the Fire Lord is approached amorously by the earthbender in passing, hands in a casual hug sliding far too low for decency. If that weren’t baffling enough, on a separate occasion, one of the water children - the nonbender no less, deemed to do much the same, fully taking the royal’s face in his hands and kissing him.
In his time, nations - much less benders of status - never intermingled like this. It was unheard of, except, of course, in the most unholy chambers of fire and earth kingdoms’ prisons and palaces, in which slaves were held. He had gone on missions to eradicate such things.
He would need to get to the bottom of this. He needs to see what this fire national in such an extreme position of power is indeed capable of giving up.
* * *
“May I have a word with you alone?”
Zuko’s full attention is pulled to the handsome, ancient air nomad.
Sokka, who had been attempting to explain the mechanics of a new ship modification to him, looks immediately annoyed.
Tahga remained in that disconcerting neutral expression he had towards everyone, with perhaps the exception of Aang. Maybe a little colder.
Zuko suppresses a sigh. He half expected this. “Of course.”
He leaves a mildly protesting Sokka behind.
They meet on the narrow balcony of the airship. It's cold in the starlight, and Zuko considers breath of fire before thinking better of it. Firebending around those traumatized by it was never a wise decision, and this man had made it clear he had a difficult past with all foreign elements.
“I need to know I can trust you.”
“You have my word. And Aang’s. What more can I do?” He says slowly.
“Explain some things to me.”
“Of course.”
“You were…intimate with the earth bender and water tribesmen. I assume your primary marriage was with fire nation blood. Were they originally delivered as concubines?”
Zuko blanched. Delivered? Concubines? Tagah says it casually enough for it to be a norm. He shamefully recalls the truth of his own mother's arrangement with his father. She had been outright poached and forbidden to see her family thereafter.
“N-no. They're my friends. Sometimes we're, um, involved though. And,” he mumbles, “I'm not married.”
“The fire lords of my time would never ‘debase’ themselves with other nations, or those of lesser status. Are you meaning to tell me that’s all a thing of the past?”
Zuko grimaces. His father and half the older folks at his council would agree if they knew. “Perhaps not entirely.”
“I see. And who retains power during the act?”
“What?”
Tahga looks at him like he’s an idiot.
“The Fire Lord takes what he wills, I assume.”
“What does that matter?” He's on the verge of tearing away from the conversation. Tahga is mixing his sexual acts with politics. It’s hardly a notion confined to the ancient world, but it makes him feel sick regardless.
Tagah tilts his head. “You seem flustered. It’s a simple question, but I am not trying to make an enemy of you, Fire Lord. If it is not my place to ask, I will take my leave.”
For Aang, he would endeavor to tolerate whatever this miracle air bender asked of him.
“Usually, I am on the receiving end. That's...it’s what my partners prefer."
He swallows, dryly. He was awkward about these things. He wasn't even sure if he had any sort of preference himself, but he liked to indulge his loved ones. They seemed to enjoy teasing reactions out of him and he liked that they enjoyed it, as well as the togetherness that came after.
Tagah raises an eyebrow a fraction. “That means a great deal, you know.”
The intimacy in and of itself means a great deal to Zuko, but he's not sure he likes the air nomad’s interpretation.
Tagah’s eyes darken, “The fire nation on more than one occasion allied itself with another nation to make attacks on the prevailing peacekeeping air nomads.”
It seems like quite a jarring shift in topic, and Zuko can do little besides wearily wait for what comes next.
Zuko isn't sure how he feels about this ancient story. One specific bending nation freely roaming the other nations to ‘spread peace’ has a familiar ring to what he learned in fire nation school about ‘spreading greatness.’ But with the way things ultimately turned out, how could he do anything besides bite his tongue?
“And now I learn your nation was the final poison. And you still wear the crown proudly, despite claiming to be my brother's friend. Curious.”
The man has been steadily getting closer to him. Zuko realizes his head barely reaches his chest, and Zuko rarely feels so small. Tagahis huge.
“...”
“Would you let such a thoroughly devastated enemy of your nation debase you? Would you be disgusted, or afraid?” Zuko stands resolute when he feels the heat of the air nomad touch his skin.
Zuko’s voice is wavering slightly, “What are you asking-”
“Would you be as vulnerable with a member of a nation you destroyed as you are with the others? Are you really capable of trusting each other to that extent, despite everything?”
Zuko bows his head and grips the cold metal of the airship tightly. A roughly hewn bolt cuts into his skin. “Yes.”
Tahga grips the back of his head, tugging carefully styled hair out of place, “Prove it. Let me into your chamber tonight.”
“Someone else is expecting me there.” he whispers.
“Now then.”